-Thomas Fuller
and Gilles Mendel, co-founders of House of Gilles.
Feel Like Home
Experience the magic of the holiday season in Elkhart Lake, where timeless traditions make you feel right at home. Wander through the Old World Christmas Market, ride through snowy streets on a horse-drawn wagon, and watch little ones marvel at festive workshops. Savor special moments with Breakfast with Santa or Brunch with St. Nicholas and his reindeer, and let Holiday Musical Revues brighten your spirits. From heartwarming moments to festive fun, Elkhart Lake is your perfect holiday getaway. Explore more holiday experiences and vacation packages at ElkhartLake.com
WRAPPING UP 2024 THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
SUSAN’S 2024 SALES RECAP
245 OLD GREEN BAY RD, GLENCOE*** • 905 VERNON AVE, GLENCOE*** • 1201 HOHLFELDER RD, GLENCOE*** 966 GREEN BAY RD, GLENCOE*** • 676 LONGWOOD AVE, GLENCOE*** • 80 ESTATE DR, GLENCOE*** 766 ELDER CT, GLENCOE*** • 414 SUNSET LN, GLENCOE** • 1133 MAYFAIR LN, GLENCOE* 314 HAWTHORN AVE UNIT D, GLENCOE** • 150 LINDEN AVE, GLENCOE • 828 BLUFF ST, GLENCOE** LOT 6, FOREST EDGE SUBDIVISION, GLENCOE • 111 CARY AVE, HIGHLAND PARK*** 7624 MAPLE ST, MORTON GROVE*** • 60 WELLESLEY CIR, NORTHBROOK*** • 1228 WESTMOOR RD, WINNETKA*** 44 WOODLEY RD, WINNETKA*** • 72 WOODLEY RD, WINNETKA*** • 807 CHERRY ST, WINNETKA*** 109 FULLER LN, WINNETKA*** • 841 FOXDALE AVE, WINNETKA*
7 north shore doings
Your go-to guide for all the latest local events this month
10 north shore sports
Loyola Academy's reigning state champion girls' basketball team nets a pair of easy wins on the hardwood
LIFESTYLE & ARTS
12 #hashtag
Lake Forest entrepreneur Dominique Ittner shares what's trending in her world
16 north shore foodie
Our turkey pot pie recipes make the most of those Thanksgiving leftovers
18 here
This AI-generated film reunites the team from the 1994 hit comedy, Forrest Gump
19 heretic
Hugh Grant stars in a fright flick that our reviewer calls "overrated and undercooked"
20 weekend home
These espresso-hued interior accessories bring warmth to any room
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
22 sunday breakfast
Civic leader and Lake Forest native Tom Swarthout receives a distinguished service honor and wins another election—in three weeks
NORTH SHORE DOINGS
EDITED BY CHEYANNE LENCIONI THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
NOVEMBER 30, DECEMBER 6 TO 7, & 13 TO 14
MARIANI LANDSCAPE’S HOLIDAY SHOPPE
WHERE: Mariani Landscape, Lake Bluff
Mariani Landscape’s Holiday Shoppe is back. The popular Lake Bluff event features an extraordinary selection of Christmas trees, holiday decor, fresh greenery, and seasonal arrangements. Highlights include a visit by Santa and his sleigh, hot chocolate, and cider with a bonfire for s’mores, exclusive holidays decor, and container arrangements. marianilandscape.com
NOVEMBER 30 TO DECEMBER 8
SANTA’S MAILBOX
WHERE: Mallinckrodt Park, Wilmette
Mail your letters to Santa at the magical mailbox in Mallinckrodt Park. With your letter, include a selfaddressed and stamped envelope so Santa can write you back. All letters must be dropped into the mailbox by December 8. wilmettepark.org
NOVEMBER 30 TO DECEMBER 15
LETTERS TO SANTA
WHERE: Northfield Community Center
Children can write letters to Santa and receive a reply from the big man himself. Share wishes, ask questions, tell Santa about your year. Letters can be dropped off at mailboxes in the Northfield Community Center. Include your mailing address so Santa can write back. northfieldparks.org
NOVEMBER 30 TO DECEMBER 31
GAME OF GNOMES
SCAVENGER HUNT
WHERE: Downtown Wilmette
Set out on a fun adventure throughout Wilmette. Twelve holiday gnomes are hiding among the window decorations of 12 stores throughout Wilmette. Fill out the game card with names as the gnomes are found. Once you have all 12, turn in the game card at the Game of Gnomes drop box at the Wild Child Toy Shop. Entries will be eligible to win a Shop Wilmette Gift Card. A new winner will be picked each week in December. Share your finds on social media for a chance to win extra prizes. wilmette.gov
NOVEMBER 30 TO DECEMBER 31
JOB CENTER ON THE MOVE
WHERE: Highwood Library
From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Lake County’s Workforce Development will be hosting its weekly program to help the community with careers. This program will focus on one-on-one resume development, job training, internships, career transitions, and more. No appointment is necessary. highwoodlibrary.org
NOVEMBER 30 TO JANUARY 5
LIGHTSCAPE
WHERE: Chicago Botanic Garden
Chicago Botanic Garden’s annual Lightscape is back. The gardens have been transformed into dazzling light displays to enjoy this holiday season. Beautiful first-time installations and returning favorites like the light chapel decorate the trail nightly. Tickets can be purchased on the garden’s website and slots are available on first-come, first-served basis. Drink and food will be offered within the gardens along the trail. chicagobotanic.org
NOVEMBER 30 TO JANUARY 5
PHOTOGRAPHING FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT
WHERE: Driehaus Museum
Explore the fascinating collection of Frank Lloyd Wright’s early photography in this brand-new exhibit. It will include images by leading photographers who documented his work as well as photos taken by the architect himself. Wright’s fascination with photography allowed him to pursue his hobby and use it as a technique of making his architecture accessible to the public. This exhibition offers insight into how photography influenced public perception of his work. driehausmuseum.org
NOVEMBER 30 TO JANUARY 31
HOLIDAY LIGHTS RECYCLING
WHERE: Northfield Community Center
Northfield’s Village Hall and Community Center will be providing bins where holiday lights and extension cords can be recycled. Clean out your decorations stash and make room for new lights and supplies by recycling the old. northfieldparks.org
NOVEMBER 30 TO FEBRUARY 25
“KENILWORTH
CENTENNIAL HOMES”
WHERE: Kenilworth Historical Society
Explore the history of Kenilworth’s oldest homes and celebrate their architectural significance with a dynamic exhibit that chronicles the evolution of residential development in the village. The homes featured in this exhibit were built between 1889 and 1924. kenilworthhistory.org
NOVEMBER 30
JANE D’ANGELO EXHIBIT
WHERE: Vivid Art Gallery
Northfield artist Jane D'Angelo's work is on display throughout November at Vivid Art Gallery. D'Angelo is an impressionist painter whose work is defined by the beautiful combination of light and shadow. Using rich and vibrant colors, she aims to convey both the physical beauty of Chicago, as well as the emotions it evokes. vividartgallery.net
NOVEMBER 30
SMALL BUSINESS
SATURDAY
WHERE: Central Street, Evanston
Shop small on Evanston’s Central Street and show local
and get a free ticket to the movie. Then convene on Village Green for hot chocolate, caroling and the annual tree lighting. wilmette.gov
DECEMBER 6
WASSAIL!
AN IRISHAMERICAN CHRISTMAS
WHERE: Ravinia's Martin Theatre
support in a big way. Shoppers who spend $100 or more will receive a $20 Evanston gift card. downtownevanston.org
DECEMBER 4
STATE OF THE VILLAGES
HOLIDAY TEA
WHERE: Winnetka Congregational Church
From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Holiday Tea will feature presentations from the Village Managers and Village Presidents along with great conversation and refreshments. There will be a holiday collection open for check donations. RSVPs are required. my.lwv.org
DECEMBER 5
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
WHERE: Downtown
Wilmette
Enjoy a family-friendly day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. complete with holiday shopping and dining. A breakfast with Santa is available with advanced reservations from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at Convito Cafe. The day is full of local shopping and dining promotions, visits with Santa, a giant snow globe, carolers, a scavenger hunt, live performances, and a showing of Elf at The Wilmette Theatre. Bring a recent receipt from a local business of $10 or more
Enjoy a special Ravinia concert featuring Apollo’s Fire that embodies the Christmas Spirit of Old Ireland. From a caroling party through the streets of Dublin to a holiday barn dance in Virginia, this evening follows the hopes and fears of the Irish who bravely crossed the Atlantic. Irish singer Fiona Gillespie joins with fiddlers, medieval harp, hammered dulcimer, and bagpipes in this communal celebration of the American immigrant experience. Tickets are on sale now. ravinia.org
DECEMBER 6
ERIN KAYA GALLERY
WHERE: Vivid Art Gallery From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., see Chicago Guest Exhibitor Erin Kaya's work on the opening night of her gallery. Her work will be displayed throughout the month of December along with 25 other artists. Kaya is an abstract artist whose work is defined by the interplay between two geometric forms—lines and squares. These shapes and the resulting patterns allow her mind to relax and be in the present moment. Messy and unorganized, the result is paintings that vibrate with energy and intensity, serving as a peek into her soul. vividartgallery.net
DECEMBER 7
TREE
LIGHTING AND HOLIDAY MARKET
WHERE: Kenilworth Assembly Hall
Join Santa and Mrs. Claus
Lightscape
from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for Kenilworth’s tree lighting and holiday market. Carolers will provide music. kenilworthparkdistrict.org
DECEMBER 7
COOKIE & COCOA CRAWL
WHERE: Ravinia District
Kick off the holiday season with warm cocoa, festive cookies, and tons of fun.
From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., kids can pick up their cookie collection bag and tickets in Jens Jensen Park. Visit local participating businesses throughout the district and enjoy the festive decorations. Santa will also be in attendance. enjoyhighlandpark.com
DECEMBER 7
ANDREW BIRD TRIO
WHERE: Ravinia’s Martin Theatre
At 7:30 p.m., the Andrew Bird Trio will make its debut Ravinia performance with Sunday Morning Put-On. Guests will be immersed in
a mid-century small-group jazz music. Gates open at 4 p.m. and tickets are on sale now. ravinia.org
DECEMBER 8
RED INVITATION EVENT
WHERE: Participating stores Participating businesses in Winnetka, Northfield, and Glencoe will be hosting extended hours for holiday shopping. Residents of these villages will receive a special invite in the mail that includes a map and QR code. Businesses that will be open for this event will have red balloons in front of their stores. wngchamber.com
DECEMBER 8
HOLIDAY HOME TOUR
WHERE: Lake Bluff History Museum
Jump start the holiday season with Lake Bluff History Museum’s Holiday Home Tour. From 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., guests can pick up new decorating ideas, visit two holiday boutiques
Please
In
in historic homes, and enjoy the creativity and tradition of their neighbors. Tickets are $50 each. lakebluffhistory.org
DECEMBER 8
THE RODNEY MARSALIS PHILADELPHIA BIG BRASS
WHERE: Ravinia’s Martin Theatre
At 1:30 p.m., enjoy a performance from North America’s premier large brass ensemble at Ravinia. Through its frequently rotating collective of associate artists, the Philadelphia Big Brass reflects the diverse makeup of musicians in American culture and the notion that music is a gift to be enjoyed by everyone. Doors open at 11 a.m. Tickets are available now. ravinia.org
DECEMBER 14
ORNAMENT WORKSHOP FOR KIDS
WHERE: Gorton Center
From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
create three handmade ornaments at Gorton Center in Lake Forest. All materials will be provided. This workshop is for ages 7 to 12. gortoncenter.org
DECEMBER 20 WINTER SOLSTICE
WHERE: Shelton Park
Decorate yourself, your family, dogs, strollers, or wagons with lights and things that glow. Meet at Shelton Park in Glencoe at 5 p.m. to mark the passing of the year’s longest period of darkness. Enjoy Abbot’s Bromley Horn Dance, an ancient musical procession historically performed at this time of year. Stroll the Green Bay Trail to sing songs and celebrate the arrival of longer days. Festivities will end at 6 p.m. with a bonfire, hot chocolate, and refreshments. The parade will be canceled in the event of severe weather; event updates will be posted at gbtrail.org. No candles or open flames,
please! Winter Solstice is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Green Bay Trail and the Glencoe Park District. glencoeparkdistrict.com
DECEMBER 31
MIDNIGHT AT THE MANOR
WHERE: Deerpath Inn
Deer Path Inn is transforming its English Room and Courtyard into a winter
wonderland. Guests will enjoy a New Year’s evening of glamour, fine dining, and live music. Cocktail hour begins at 7 p.m., followed by a lavish buffet dinner. Tickets are available now. thedeerpathinn. com
To submit your event for consideration, please email events@nsweekend.com.
Erin Kaya Gallery
BY BILL MCLEAN THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PFOERTNER AND JOEL LERNER
WATER SUITS BROOKE
Highland Park High School sophomore Brooke Eliacin collects two more state medals.
It doesn’t take long for a day in the life of Highland Park High School (HPHS) sophomore Brooke Eliacin to turn into a special one.
“The second she steps on a pool deck, Brooke is filled with joy,” says HPHS senior swimming captain Alyssa Zejer, who has known Eliacin since their days as grade-school members of the Highland Park Aquatics Club.
“She loves the sport,” Zejer adds, “and has progressed so much as a swimmer. She’s fearless in the moment and has a really good sprinter’s turnover rate.”
Eliacin needed 23.79 seconds to earn her third career state medal at the girls’ state swimming and diving meet at FMC Natatorium in Westmont on November 16. She clocked that 13th-place-tying time in the 50-yard freestyle and later bowed for a 15th-place medal in the 100-
yard breaststroke (1:05.33).
Gaining four state medals in only two seasons puts the Giant on pace to receive eight, which would set a program record for most shiny prizes in a career.
“I wanted to do better than I did this year,” admits Eliacin, who sped to fifth in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.33) and took 13th in the 50 free (23.77) at the 2023 state meet. “But I enjoyed the entire weekend, competing there again against the best and making friends with the girls in my events.”
Eliacin, a daughter of Jude and Amy Eliacin and the younger sister of former HPHS swimmer and current Ball State University swimmer Angelina Eliacin, joined the Lincolnshire-based Patriot Aquatic Club (PAC) in March.
“My mom had heard good things about PAC and researched it,” says Eliacin,
Q & A with Lake Forest HS football player Marty Hippel
who, like her father, plays acoustic guitar. “So, we checked it out.
“My mindset was better this season.
I lifted weights and stayed focused and didn’t let things bother me.”
During a moment at this year’s state meet, Eli acin—the reigning Lake County Invitational champion in the 50 freestyle—looked up at her supporters in the stands and saw a sign that read, “Swim your heart out, Brooke!”
Zejer was holding it.
“As soon as Brooke noticed my sign, she gave me the biggest smile,” says Zejer.
Lake Forest High School (LFHS) two-sport standout Marty Hippel earned All-America honors in lacrosse for the state champion Scouts as a junior last spring. He followed that up with an awesome autumn in football, rushing for 920 yards in 10 games and returning two kickoffs for TDs covering 96 and 99 yards.
Three of Hippel’s rushing yards came on the penultimate play of Lake Forest’s 98-yard, 90-second drive that stunned Libertyville HS in a playoff game earlier this month. LFHS (9-3) lost to Geneva in a state quarterfinal on November 16.
our student section cheer as loudly as it did before we stopped Libertyville on a fourthdown play to clinch the win. Your role?
The best way to encapsulate the 2024 football team?
MH: It was a brotherhood. We had 40 seniors, a huge number. We were close, so close, with the football experience turning all of us into men.
Your thoughts on beating rival Libertyville in the regular season and in the playoffs?
MH: To do what we did at their stadium, clicking during that lengthy drive in the playoff game, was something we’ll never forget. Beating them (42-35) at our place was just as satisfying. I’d never heard
MH: I wasn’t a captain, but I found ways to lead. I did my best to be a role model for our young players.
The word that best describes LFHS coach Chuck Spagnoli?
MH: Trustworthy. He put trust in all of us and was a significant reason for our success. I’m keeping his phone number and other coaches’ numbers, because I’ll be texting them a lot when I’m in college next year.
College plans?
MH: Working on them. I’d love to have the opportunity to play both football and lacrosse at a Division III school.
RAMBLERS’ RUN
There’s always some uncertainty at the start of a sports season—even for a reigning state champion like Loyola Academy’s (LA) girls’ basketball team squad.
Coaches typically wonder, “How will my players respond to the bright lights of the season opener?” or “Will they mesh well with new starters in the lineup and former starters plying their hoops skills at colleges?”
The shred of doubt that LA Ramblers coach Jeremy Schoenecker might have had disappeared rather quickly on November 19, when his crew opened the season with an emphatic 73-11 defeat of Warren Township High School in a New Trier Tournament game held at Loyola Academy.
The win upped the program’s winning streak to 39 games, dating back to the start of Loyola’s magical season in 2023-2024.
“You’re always thinking, as a staff, ‘How are we going to mold our players into a team that plays well together,’” Schoenecker said. “Last year’s team left a mark—a huge mark.
“We tell our team, at the beginning of each year, ‘The baton has been passed to you. Let’s be ready to take the next step.’”
Loyola Academy sprinted to an 11-0 lead against over-
matched Warren and held a 41-4 advantage at intermission, using a potent combination of a suffocating defense and a workmanlike offense that became relentless in a hurry.
The Ramblers also dominated in the paint, particularly underneath the offensive glass. LA secured an impressive 15 rebounds to keep possessions alive.
Junior guard Clare Weasler paced the victors with 18 points, including a trio of three-pointers. Senior forward Grace Bronski netted 14 points and grabbed six rebounds, and senior guard Aubrey Galvan—an entertaining “quarterback” on hardwood—scored 10 of her 12 points in the first quarter.
“All of us were really excited to play in the first game because we had all worked so hard in practices,” said Weasler. “Some of the team goals in the opener were to play strong defense and make sure we had good spacing on offense.
“And I wanted to make the right reads.”
A total of 13 hoopsters— an unusually high number— tallied at least one point for LA.
Ramblers reserve sophomore forward Emily Naraky poured in all nine of her points in the middle quarters and finished with a gamehigh seven rebounds.
“We had good chemistry on the floor tonight,” Galvan said.
Loyola extended its winning streak to 40 games with its 61-36 defeat of Phillips in another New Trier Tournament game on November 21.
#HASHTAG
EDITED BY REDDING WORTH ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
#ON MY NIGHTSTAND
My favorite podcast is Mel Robbins so I just started to read one of her books, called The 5 Second Rule . She is legit my therapist and I literally resonate with almost everything she says and every topic she discusses.
#ON MY MOBILE
I’m always following young, cute influencers that focus on fashion, food, fitness, and positive energy—all things that I mirror in my life and on my personal Instagram account @dominiqueittner . One of my favorite girls I follow is from Los Angeles @maryralph and she owns the coolest clothing brand @dailydrills ! Love, love, love her energy! It’s all just for fun, right?
#IN MY EARBUDS
I am a music fanatic, and my life is literally a playlist. My Spotify is on all day long. Right now, I’m listening to this super cool band called The Red Clay Strays. I was so excited to see them at Windy City Smokeout with my hubby last summer. They are a little bit rock ‘n’ roll and a little bit country.
Lake Forest’s DOMINIQUE ITTNER operates a spray tanning business, a hotspot for North Shore clients in search of a bronzed look without the sun’s damaging rays. Ittner airbrushes an award-winning product on the skin to ensure a flawless, lasting, customizable glow. Her exceptional customer service and adorable, hip, tanning boutique set her apart from the rest. Ittner also sells her own Sunkissed x Dom self-tanner, which she can hardly keep on the shelves. To learn more about Ittner and her sunny biz, visit sunkissedxdom.com and follow her on Instagram @sunkissedxdom. Here is how this Lake Forester says current between sprays.
BY
When celebrities make a statement with stunningly gorgeous gowns, there’s a good chance Gilles and Chloé Mendel of House of Gilles created the couture magic.
Most recently? When Mariah Carey stepped out to open her Christmas Time Tour, her dazzling white sequined House of Gilles gown drew raves from the fashion world. That beautiful gown, with its form fitting cut, and voluminous petal puff sleeves, is just one example of the dream gowns House of Gilles is creating—both couture and for its made-toorder core collection.
But how did House of Gilles come to be?
“It was the wedding dress that clinched it,” says Chloé.
When her world-famous designer dad Gilles got together with Chloé to design the gown for her wedding to Smashing Pumpkins legend Billy Corgan, the experience was so enjoyable, the two decided to keep the collaboration going. House of Gilles, their new atelier in New York City, was the brilliant result.
“It was so thrilling for us to collaborate and make my wedding gown that we were inspired to start House of Gilles,” says Chloé, known for her Maison Atia eco-friendly luxury outerwear, and Madame ZuZu’s in Highland Park. Gilles explains, “We decided to bring people’s dream gowns to life in a specialized, collaborative way. Visiting our atelier is a must for brides-to-be and their mothers. Many come to New York and visit the major brands that quote them a very high price for something not even one percent of the red-carpet experience they would receive at House of Gilles.”
That Gilles and Chloé, fifth and sixth-generation descendants of the J. Mendel fashion empire, would launch this venture now is a welcome surprise for those who feel the personal element has been lost in the industry.
rushing to a different country and market every other moment for shows.”
Because their relationship is very close and built on longstanding trust, the two are good sounding boards for one another as they discuss dress designs, what’s happening in the industry, and so much more.
“Our skills complement each other very well,” Gilles describes. “Chloé is so talented with business and marketing and shaping the perfect experience for clients that I am free to focus on the art and design. I think that’s very rare today—to have the kind of extraordinarily good relationship where we complete each other in so many ways.”
Beyond this, “Our work is rooted in principles of great design and craftsmanship that may sound old fashioned, but we are also very tapped into what is new and happening in the industry, knowing the new developments and applying them,” says Chloé. “We create designs that feel very new but are also timeless.”
Together, the pair endeavor to provide
the trees and the ravines through the morning mist. I wanted the dress to encompass all of this—to be romantic, dreamy, and a little sexy, without showing too much. Telling my love story through my dress was important to me.”
To get there, Gilles worked with the finest lace maker in France to create lace with a delicate metallic thread running through it to achieve a very light, misty look. He then crafted a bustier—the most important structural component of the dress—and hand-draped and micro-pleated 60 yards of the lace over it.
“In the end, even though there was so much fabric, it felt light as air, like there’s almost nothing there,” says Gilles. “That’s the magic of the work I do. Dresses that have great underlying structure, giving whoever wears them security and comfort, but that feel and look ethereal and light.”
House of Gilles’ gowns that are designed for couture clientele follow the same principles and progression, beginning with ideation meetings with Chloé and Gilles then moving
says Chloé. “The gowns can be ready in just weeks, and clients can specify a color choice, beading variations, and other details that will make each gown unique.”
The House of Gilles’ celebration of craftsmanship has the pair thinking back to their early experiences of growing up in the industry.
For 150 years, from St. Petersburg to Paris to New York, the Mendel family has been known as purveyors of the world’s finest furs. Gilles was the first to step into high-end dress design.
“We’ve gone back to our roots,” Chloé observes, “Leaving the big studios and huge warehouses to focus on what we truly love: The art and relational aspects of creating for clients. Where else in this country can you meet face to face with a designer of Gilles’ pedigree to create the gown of your dreams?”
“This focus is what I love most about creating couture and dresses,” Gilles notes. “Not having to make four collections a year and
completely specialized experiences for their clientele. “Experiences to mirror the path we followed to make my wedding dress.”
And, what a gown it was!
“Chloé brought me pictures of the goddess Artemis as part of the inspiration for the feel of the dress,” recalls Gilles, “We included that with all of the other elements she wanted to distill into the dress—to tell her unique story.”
“We live in a wooded area of Highland Park on Lake Michigan,” explains Chloé, “And I kept thinking of how you can see the lake and
to sketches, dress construction, and fittings. This process can take anywhere from three months to one year.
“But not everyone has a year to make a couture gown,” notes Chloé.
With that in mind, House of Gilles’ first core collection of made-to-order gowns launched in September.
“The collection will serve for beautiful, glamorous events—everything from the Golden Globes, the Emmys, or the Grammys, to galas, weddings, or other important events,”
As a furrier, Gilles’ father was a gifted artisan with long elegant hands, a diamond ring on his pinky, and piercing blue eyes.
“Watching him work was so beautiful,” says Gilles. “There was so much pride and nobility in his work. I can still see him stretching the fur, using an old hammer and nails that had been passed down for generations. It was like he was creating architecture, like a plan of Versailles, the nails lined up like little soldiers all along the board. I honestly think of this all the time ... the nobility and pride of creating beautiful work, because it’s such an emotional and pleasurable thought. I think it’s a big part of the reason I’m returning to couture atelier—I really enjoy and love it.”
Looking ahead?
“We’re starting with couture, and eventually, we might move to other things. But right now, the focus is to do something unique and provide an extraordinary experience that people cannot find at any other house in America,” says Gilles.
“We are a brand of uncompromised quality and craftsmanship made in New York. Our growth will always stem from that,” Chloé concludes. “Where that brings us in the future, we can’t foretell. But we will always have our hand in, making the most beautiful pieces with a personal family touch.”
For more information, visit houseofgilles.com
HOUSE OF GILLES From PG 1
MONICA KASS ROGERS THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Chloé and Gilles Mendel working on Mariah Carey's Christmas Time Tour dress in the New York atelier.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY RUVEN AFANDOR
Fitting for Chloe's wedding dress. PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHERVINLAINEZ
THANKSGIVING REDUX
These quick and easy pot pie recipes are just one way to make the most of those Thanksgiving turkey leftovers.
BY MONICA KASS ROGERS FOOD EDITOR
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
The Thanksgiving guests are long gone, you’ve already had a day or two of delicious sandwiches piled with turkey and fixings, but you’ve still got lots of leftovers. Thankfully, many recipes make the most of them. That turkey carcass, broken down and simmered in the oven with water and herbs will yield rich bone broth. Then, there’s turkey tetrazzini, turkey chili, cranberry muffins, turkey quiche, and even sweet potato shepherd’s pie to consider. But to keep it easy, our favorite Thanksgiving redux is to tuck leftovers into a potpie as we’ve done here.
Our two turkey pot pie versions are both easy to make. One is topped with refrigerated biscuit dough. The other is made with ready-made pie-crusts. For the first, we steamed some onion, carrot, and celery, made a gravy with turkey stock, and added some leftover green beans, turkey, and fresh herbs. For the pie, we did the much the same, but used leftover gravy, turkey, and peas. The pie filling recipe makes enough for one deep-dish nine inch pie, or a small 6-inch pie and 12 mini muffin-tin pies. You can also skip the doughs entirely, and just enjoy the filling as a creamy stew.
DEEP-DISH TURKEY POT PIE
INGREDIENTS
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 1 medium onion, diced to make 1 cup
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups leftover cooked vegetables (squash, green beans, carrots) OR 1 cup each of raw diced carrot and diced celery
• 2 cups diced leftover turkey
• 2 cups leftover turkey gravy
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 1 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves
• 2 Tbsp fresh parsley leaves, chopped
• 6 fresh sage leaves, minced
• 2 ready-made refrigerated 9-inch deep dish pie crusts
METHOD
With oven rack in center position, preheat oven to 350. In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add 1 cup chopped onion and sauté for 5 minutes until onion is soft. Add minced garlic and cook, stirring for 3 more minutes. Remove from heat. Add 3 cups chopped leftover vegetables OR place 1 cup chopped carrot and 1 cup chopped celery in microwaveable bowl with water to cover. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and steam vegetables or 6 to 7
minutes until vegetables are tender. Drain. Add cooked vegetables to onion and garlic in pan. Return heat to medium low. Add 2 cups diced turkey, and 2 cups gravy. Add peas. Stir to combine. Remove from heat and stir in herbs. Fit one pie crust into 9-inch pie dish. Add filling. Top with remaining pie crust. Seal and crimp edge of pie. Cut a few small slits in top crust to vent steam. Bake at 350 for 45 to 50 minutes or until pie crust is golden brown and filling is bubbling.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MONICA KASS ROGERS
BISCUIT-TOPPED TURKEY POT PIE
SERVES 4 TO 6
INGREDIENTS
• ½ stick butter (1/4 cup)
• 1 medium onion, chopped to make 1 cup
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 to 3 ribs celery, chopped to make 1 cup
• 3 thin carrots, sliced into rounds to make 1 cup
• 4 Tbsp flour
• Zest from 1 fresh lemon
• 2 cups turkey or chicken stock
METHOD
• 2 cups diced leftover turkey
• 1 1/2s cup leftover green beans OR 1, 10-oz package frozen green beans, thawed
• 1 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves
• 2 Tbsp fresh parsley leaves, chopped
• 6 fresh sage leaves, minced
• Salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste
• 1 can refrigerated ready-made biscuits
In an oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven over medium-low heat, melt ½ stick butter. Add 1 cup diced onion and cook until soft (5 minutes.) Add minced garlic and cook three minutes more. Remove from heat. Place 1 cup chopped carrot and 1 cup chopped celery in microwaveable bowl with water to cover. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and steam vegetables or 6 to 7 minutes until vegetables are tender. Drain. Add cooked vegetables to onion and garlic in pan. Return heat to medium. Sprinkle vegetables with 4 Tbsp flour. Stir to combine. Add lemon zest and 2 cups stock. Stir until gravy thickens. Stir in diced turkey and green beans. Remove from heat. Stir in herbs. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Place biscuits on top of filling. Place in preheated 350 oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until biscuits are cooked through and filling is bubbling.
HOPE IS HERE
Now in Our New North Shore Location
City of Hope® is a national network of more than 1,600 cancer specialists working toward breakthrough discoveries that impact over 100 million lives each year
– personalizing treatment right down to a patient’s DNA.
Now that City of Hope has expanded to Illinois, including our newest North Shore location in Morton Grove as of November 2024, we’re proud to be part of a team that is revolutionizing cancer care here in the Chicagoland area – but what we’re most proud of is giving you hope.
In addition to our new North Shore location, City of Hope is also serving the Chicago area with locations in Lake County and Downtown Chicago.
Appointments are available in as little as 24 hours. cityofhope.org • 847-857-6216
Meet our North Shore physicians, with nearly 100 years of combined experience serving Chicagoland: Marlon Kleinman, M.D. I David J. Winchester, M.D. I Edward Kaplan, M.D.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MONICA KASS ROGERS
HERE
Tom Hanks stars in a schmaltzy AI-generated film that reunites the team from his 1994 hit comedy, Forrest Gump.
BY REX REED
RUNNING TIME:
1 HOUR, 44 MINUTES
RATING: 1 star
If you think Tom Hanks cannot make a bad movie, you haven’t seen Here. This phony, gimmicky, and tedious waste of time might not be the first film in the abominable new process called AI, but I pray it will be the last.
The lure going in is that it reunites the major players from the smash hit 1994 comedy Forrest Gump—Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, writer Eric Roth, and director Robert Zemeckis—in a lame attempt to make more money by capitalizing on a great film’s financial success using a revolutionary new technology that reduces overhead by eliminating the need to hire real actors. It’s a hateful experiment that backfires, because filling the screen with computergenerated robots defeats the whole purpose of making movies in the first place.
Here isn’t here, there, or anywhere at all. It's like an aimless, meandering comic book you can thumb your way through just by looking at the pictures. Dare I mention it is also a colossal bore?
Based on a novel by Richard McGuire I never intend to read, Here is a long and plotless mess about the passage of time in a single space defined through the years by imagery that begins with dinosaurs, progresses through cowboys and arrow-pointing Indians to the invention of the wheel, and ends up with traffic horns and supermarkets—all seen through the
eyes of a single family.
Enter a couple named Al and Rose (Paul Bettany and Holly Reilly) who are looking for a house. They can’t afford the 1800-sq.foot manse erected in 1900 that replaces the dinosaurs with a permanent residence on the property, but they buy it anyway and spend the rest of their lives in the same living room where the only thing that changes is the sofa. Along with avoiding the threat of a gargantuan budget, the movie saves a fortune on sets.
Through the years, Al and Rose are joined by a growing family that includes their son Richard (a dull performance by Tom Hanks), his wife Margaret (gorgeous but wasted Robin Wright), and their daughter Vanessa (a fledgling actor from the director’s own family with the ghastly monicker Zsa Zsa Zemeckis).
Richard is a character of unspecific value to the family, although he is the first one to go to college, and Margaret, on her 50th birthday, regrets all the things she missed through the years, trapped in this kind of house (and this kind of movie). She never went to college because she was too busy being a wife and mother, never saw Paris in the spring because it was too far away from home, never spent the night in Yellowstone National Park because it was always too crowded.
Rose dies, Al has a stroke and moves in with
Richard and Margaret, intruding on any possibility of peace and togetherness in their autumnal years by prattling on nostalgically about what he did in World War II. Generations of friends and relatives come and go, nobody ever seems to go to work, and it’s always Christmas.
These people are not rich, powerful, controversial, accomplished, or even tortured enough to sustain interest while the viewer waits for them to change the world or hire an interior decorator. There’s no tension, no schadenfreude, no complexity woven into the narrative to demonstrate why we’re expected to care about these folks for nearly two hours that seem more like nearly two days.
When Margaret finally walks out on the entire family, we only wonder what took her so long. Tom Hanks does what’s right for the film, convincingly aging from a high-school student to a wrinkled old man near death in ways that can’t be solved by the makeup department, but he can’t invent a cinematic raison d’etre if it isn’t in the script.
While it’s a film about the passage of time, there’s no archival footage or revealing intimacy in the relationships among characters to explain why Here is anything to enhance enthusiasm for more movies about AI. Color it long, clumsy, gimmicky, schmaltzy, and pointless.
ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
HERETIC
Rom-com favorite Hugh Grant is cast as a diabolical villain in this disappointing fright flick.
So much junk has already been written about the risky change of pace Hugh Grant exhibits in an overrated, undercooked fright flick called Heretic that it seems purposeless to contribute more.
I’ll simply say he deserves applause, and question “So what?”
He’s a fine actor who should be able to switch from a charming romantic lead to a menacing, diabolical villain with superior ease, and the monster he plays in Heretic is not only skillfully freakish, but not altogether without charm, either. It seems like a natural fit.
(in the midst of fog, rain, and a coming snowstorm, natch). The creaking door is opened by a genial, smiling Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant, turning on his customary charm), who invites them in and offers them a slice of blueberry pie freshly baked by his wife, who never appears. But instead of pie, what Mr. Reed provides is a challenging debate about the role of religion through the ages.
“Why do you do this?” asks one of the misguided missionaries in one of the film’s unintentional comedy misfires. “The question,” answers Mr. Reed with a lethal grin, “is—why do you all let me?”
RUNNING TIME: 1 HOUR, 51 MINUTES
RATING: 1 star
The question: is it scary? In my opinion, the answer is a big, yawning no way. Shaving too fast with an old razor blade, I’ve had more scares than anything in Heretic from my bathroom mirror.
Helmed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods—the writing-directing-sometimes producing team responsible for such B movies as Haunt and The Boogeyman— Heretic has been mistaken as a horror-genre innovator, but there’s nothing innovational about it. Instead of horror, it exudes more of a long and tiresome ideological debate about the horror of religion combined with the horrors of bad movies. It could be called a whydunit as opposed to a whodunit.
The premise begins with promise. Two lovely Mormon missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) on a mission to convert non-believers to salvation arrive at a creepy, imposing house
Whether the women are fundraising or simply hoping to find a friendly soulmate is left to the imagination, although the dark and gloomy manse soon becomes a testament to the host’s behavior and his perilous plans for unsuspecting visitors, many of whom turn out to be imprisoned in cages in underground dungeons below.
Before you can say “Girls in movie peril who saw Psycho should know better than to go out after dark,” the proceedings turn into a screamfest and the charming Mr. Reed turns into a serial killer who verbally accompanies each of his murders with mumbo jumbo jabberwocky that begins with ominous questions like “How do you feel about polygamy?”
It should come as no surprise when the girls discover the exit doors are locked, the blueberry pie is poison, and there’s no wife. As the snowstorm rages outside, the girls flee to the cellar where future victims await their turn for execution.
That’s the film’s only point—that there is no point. It has occasional moments of suspense, but nothing is grounded in any kind of logic, which pretty much leaves Hugh Grant to guide the wobbly, disorganized and pointless third act to its gruesome conclusion with maximum, eyerolling, lip-licking glee.
He’s the only reason to keep one eye on the screen and the other eye glued to the exit door. You can’t teach an old pro new tricks, and this is an actor who couldn’t turn off the charm even if directed to, which nobody does.
Even when he cuts off a victim’s hand, one finger at a time, he seems jovial. Let’s hope that having proven himself more than capable of handling gory nonsense, he is offered a meatier role next time around.
In the disappointing greeting-card finale of Heretic, everything collapses in hearts and flowers and butterflies, but only one person is still alive. I won’t reveal who it is. I will only tell you that when Hugh Grant leaves the screen, it has an impact not unlike saying goodbye to Casper, the Friendly Ghost.
BY ALLISON DUNCAN
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FERVENT SERVANT
Busy Lake Forest builder, community advocate, and public official Tom Swarthout earns a service award and wins election to another term as a trustee of a municipal body.
BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT
As a fraternity member at the University of Illinois in the 1970s, Lake Forest native Tom Swarthout landed the position of house manager.
As a freshman, no less.
“I filled the boiler every day at 7 a.m., before my first class,” recalls Swarthout.
“Nobody else knew how to do it.”
He’s been a serial doer in Lake Forest ever since, racking up accolades and serving vital local posts along the way. Now 69 years old and the president of The Highview Group Ltd.—a premier commercial and residential developer and design/build firm in Lake Forest—the sharp, perpetually energetic Swarthout was the recipient in mid-October of the Illinois Association of Wastewater Agencies’ Public Officials Award for exceptional service to their community to ensure that the water supply is protected for all citizens.
Three weeks later, in the November 5 election, the father of three and grandfather of five had another reason to take a bow, having secured a fifth term as Trustee of Ward 4 (Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and North Chicago) in the North Shore Water Reclamation District (NSWRD).
“We’re one of the most fiscally conservative public entities in the state,” Swarthout says.
“Zero debt,” he adds.
An NSWRD trustee since 2012, Swarthout has spearheaded a slew of projects, including the construction of a onemillion-gallon raw sewage storage basin on the shore of Lake Michigan at Lake Bluff’s Sunrise Beach. The basin was designed to protect the lake from raw sewage overflows when system capacity is exceeded, when Com-Ed power is lost, or when corrective/ preventative maintenance is needed.
Among other positions Swarthout held in his beloved hometown were city alderman for six years, chairman of Lake Forest Parks & Recreation for five years, and chairman of the Lake Forest Northwestern Medical
Hospital Board of Directors.
“Being involved with Lake Forest’s hospital has been the highlight of my professional life,” says Swarthout, who still serves the hospital as an emeritus official and works out regularly at its health and fitness center. “It attracts outstanding tal ent because of its technol ogy and resources, making it one of the finest commu nity hospitals around. It’s a top 10 hospital in Illinois.
“Local residents,” he adds, “never have to go to downtown Chicago to get outstanding care.”
Swarthout’s late father, James, grew up in Lake Forest and didn’t have to move an inch to hear Fort Sheridan’s 300-horse cavalry
Goodbye, waxes and drying
Hello, hammers and nails.
At Lake Forest High School, his favorite teacher was Robert Pelinka Sr., who taught architecture/drafting classes. The teacher’s son, Robert Jr., is the vice president of basketball operations and general manager of the Los Angeles Lakes.
“I took four years of classes taught by Mr. Pelinka, who also put up garage doors,” says Swarthout, a 1973 LFHS graduate. “He allowed his students to design houses. I remember always looking forward to his classes and being excited as soon as I got there.”
“Wrestling—what a lonely sport. That was rough, my year in wrestling. I had to train in every practice against a teammate who wound up wrestling at Iowa for Dan Gable.”
Gable coached at the University of Iowa from 1976-1997, guiding the Hawkeyes to 15 NCAA titles.
Fast and quick in football and baseball, Swarthout batted .500 in one season as a utility infielder for the Scouts.
After majoring in business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Swarthout, a handyman who would morph into a creative builder, was hired as a fulltime carpenter by a North Shore builder and for one year attended Washburne Trade School in Chicago, which collaborated with Chicago Public Schools.
“I’d get down there early and read The Wall Street Journal,” says Swarthout. “Other students showed up then and probably wondered why I was reading a newspaper before the start of trade school classes.”
John Conatser
Jennifer Sturgeon
Gaven Conatser
@ TheNSWeekend @ TheNSWeekend
Being involved with Lake Forest’s hospital has been the highlight of my professional life.
clip-clop, clip-clop. The regiment passed his house nearly daily on Old Elm Road in the 1930s. Tom’s mother, Terri, lives in Tom’s childhood house in Lake Forest.
At the age of 16, Tom Swarthout worked at a car wash facility, making $2.50 an hour.
“One day, a customer offered me $3.00 an hour to work for him as a carpenter,” Swarthout says.
Michelle Crowe, Erin Donaldson, Dustin O'Regan, Kemmie Ryan, Megan Weisberg
FOOD EDITOR
Only one student received an A-plus grade in one of Mr. Pelinka’s classes.
You’re reading about him now.
Swarthout played football as a defensive back and baseball as a second baseman at LFHS. He also wrestled, but for only one season.
“I was a small guy who finally grew at the end of my senior year,” Swarthout, a 119-pound wrestler as a sophomore, says.
Monica Kass Rogers CONTRIBUTING
Allison Duncan, Cheyanne Lencioni, Bill McLean, Redding Worth
Linda
The North Shore builder promoted Swarthout to carpenter superintendent, a post he retained for five years. He later worked for and with Northbrook-based developer/architect Jim Otis, rising to the position of VP in charge of contractors.
Swarthout first met his future wife, Carolyn, at The Village Tavern on Long Grove, shortly after she had returned from a trip to France. They got married in 1982 and raised Anna, Timmy, and Sophie. Timmy Swarthout, who now works as a VP for his father at The Highview Group, played basketball at LFHS and once guarded future Chicago Bull and NBA MVP Derrick Rose, a Simeon High School gradate.
“Watching our kids grow up was fantastic,” says Swarthout. “I loved everything about it.
“I didn’t miss an event.”
The North Shore Water Reclamation District is the second-largest water reclamation district in Illinois serving more than 300,000 people in eastern Lake County. For more information about the NSWRD, visit northshorewrd.org.
Joel Lerner, Monica Kass Rogers, George Pfoertner
Bachtell, Barry Blitt ILLUSTRATION
Tom Swarthout
